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Fast Facts: The Most Common Contraband in U.S. Federal Prisons

By Megan Gates
16 March 2026

Focus on Corrections Security

What is contraband in a corrections facility? Typically, they are items that can cause harm to incarcerated people and prison staff.

Recently, the U.S. Sentencing Commission—an independent agency within the U.S. Department of Justice—conducted a five-year review of individuals sentenced for contraband offenses in U.S. Bureau of Prisons facilities.

Watch the video below to learn about the commission’s findings.

 

Source: https://www.ussc.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/research-and-publications/quick-facts/Prison_Contraband_Special-Edition.pdf

 

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